February 27, 2014
Ireland

Moycullen residents appeal windfarm decision

Written by Declan Tierney | Connacht Tribune | 27 February 2014 | www.connachttribune.ie

A decision to grant planning permission for an 11 turbine wind farm has angered residents in West Galway who are now determined to appeal this decision to An Bord Pleanála.

There were more than 40 submissions to Galway County Council opposing the development at Knockranny, Moycullen on the grounds that it would have a negative impact on their property and the environment.

The opposition to the wind farm came mainly from residents but fisheries interests also opposed the development on the grounds that it could jeopardise the reopening of a salmon fishing river.

The application for the windfarm was lodged by Western Power Developments and county planners announced last week that it could proceed subject to 28 planning conditions being complied with.

Wind farms have been a contentious issue in the Connemara area in recent years with residents and campaign groups saying that the area has been unfairly targeted. There are four wind farms in the immediate vicinity of this development.

There are wind farms at Uggool, Lettercraffroe, Cloosh and Seecon and between them it involves a development of around 100 turbines in total.

Residents in the Knockranny area claimed that the turbines would have a negative impact on a children’s graveyard and a special area of conservation nearby.

The appeal also stated that there would be a risk of peat slippage during the development and this would pose a risk of contamination to local rivers and streams.

For more on this story, see this week’s Connacht Tribune

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/27/moycullen-residents-appeal-windfarm-decision/